A Metairie man has been arrested and booked with possession of child pornography after an investigation by the Louisiana State Police. Detectives opened the investigation in August after receiving information that sexually explicit images of children were being downloaded at a home at 6701 Merle St. in Metairie, according to state Trooper Melissa Matey, spokeswoman for the department.

JPSOWilliam Powell

The detectives executed a search warrant at the house on the morning of Sept. 28 and seized a laptop computer belonging to resident William Powell, 39, the arrest report said. Powell told the detectives during questioning that he had installed a file-sharing program to download music and movies.

A search of the computer performed at the house revealed several deleted and incomplete files with file names "graphically purporting to be child pornography," the arrest report said. But none of the files could be viewed that day.

During an Oct. 11 forensic search of the computer, investigators discovered two picture files that contained images of juvenile boys and girls engaged in sexual acts, the arrest report said. The investigators obtained an arrested warrant for Powell based on the findings.

Powell, a computer technician, was taken into custody Monday at his place of employment in the 3700 block of St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Matey said. He was transferred to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center and booked with having pornography involving a juvenile.

Powell was released Monday on a $15,000 bond. He could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.